Hip Dysplasia

Another topic submitted by a friend: "Can you list some facts/tips on hip displaysia? I'm sure I spelled that incorrectly, but our 13 year old dog tested positive for it when he was around 2-3 and I'm just curious how this will continue to develop and if there is anything we can do for him? He is on glucosomine tablets already, but I would love to make him be in the least amount of pain possible."
Hip dysplaysia for dogs is fairly common, especially in the large breed dogs. Small breeds can have it too, it is just not as common. Usually it is diagnosed by a veterinarian by X-rays. What we see upon X-ray, if a pet has this problem, is the "ball and socket" joint of the hips, where the femur sits in the hip, is not normal. The "ball", or head of the femur does not sit correctly in place and appears to have slipped out of the "socket".
This condition is usually found in young dogs, around 6 to 20 months of age, or the elderly pet who is maybe limping or walking like they are in pain. In young dogs, it is best to not breed them, as this is a hereditary trait. If you have a large breed dog, you will want to feed it a large breed, quality food. This will help the bones to grow at an appropriate rate for the puppy. Large breed foods will have a decreased calcium content, which is what you want for a large breed. If their bones grow too quickly, this can lead to a number of joint diseases. In young and old dogs, you simply have to control any discomfort. There is no cure for this disease and the condition will continue to develop. It usually results in pain, arthritis of the joint, and sometimes muscle atrophy (where the muscles start to "disappear") if the pet will not use its legs.
For the pet who has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, Glucosamine supplements are a good idea. Make sure you get them from your veterinarian as human pills can be an incorrect dose for your pet. When they begin to have a lot of discomfort, you can ask your veterinarian to prescribe pain medication. There are a few we routinely use for dogs/cats. The NSAIDs (like Rimadyl or Meloxicam) are a good choice because they reduce pain and inflammation. Regular blood tests may be needed if your pet is on these long term to check their liver. NEVER give your pet human pain meds, like Ibuprofen, Tylenol, or Advil. These are toxic to dogs and cats, even a small amount!